Jørgen Skov Sørensen
jss@interchurch.dk

what’s on his mind

what’s on his mind

squatting in the shade
sugar cane in his right hand
dark brown skin
wearing a worn shirt
labeled lifang

what’s on his mind

observing the white
toyota land cruiser
slipping into his village
high speed
on a tarmac road
built by
friendly chinese engineers

what’s on his mind

thoughts
now
and again
interrupted
by the firm horn of
a long distance bus

disappearing into
another
world
of dreams and
imaginations
that only he knows
that will
never
be revealed even by my
firm questioning

what’s on his mind

did he cheer
watching
fc barcelona
beat
ac milan
4 – 0
in the
champions’ league quarter final
down at the
coffee house
last night

drinking
way
too much

or did he go to the mosque

seeking
ways
to perceive
passing white
toyota land cruisers

what’s on his mind

what’s on his mind

still apathetic
squatting in the
shade
several miles
after
a white toyota land cruiser
slipped
through
his village or

has he left

gone home
gone into the sun
gone to his work place
gone through the valley of death

if so
so what

what’s on his mind

what’s on his mind

392496_4423220988977_525056993_nJørgen Skov Sørensen, who holds a PhD in intercultural studies from Birmingham University (UK), works professionally with international church management and theological training. About his poetry, which counts both ancient haiku and contemporary formats, he says: “I attempt to convey the impact people have on me–be it through proper conversations or via situations that are really too short to make an informed impact, however still do leave impressions and unanswered questions with me. The latter is well represented by my piece TOYOTA, which is a snap shot of a (non-)encounter in a globalized world.”